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Post by tom on Jan 15, 2022 17:11:33 GMT -6
I like skimming through archive.org for articles about Joan from the early days. Especially the period when she was an "It Girl" and rising star before she became an icon. This is from some sort of scandal sheet called Hollywood Topics (Oct 1926-Feb 1927). Can click on it for a bigger view. Tells of Joan landing a plum role in The Unknown (1927) with Lon Chaney based on the success of her turn in Paris (1926).  Also a fun little story to the right about her future in-laws buying land in what is now Rancho Santa Fe. Think it's still there and called Fairbanks Ranch. Pretty swanky as I recall from when I last drove near there. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbanks_Ranch,_California |
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Post by tom on Jan 15, 2022 17:13:02 GMT -6
Same source as above. Tell of Joan partying hearty in SF. Maybe motivated by her bit part in Proud Flesh (1925)?!?  Looks like same photo as above. |
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Post by tom on Jan 15, 2022 17:28:17 GMT -6
This one is a tad more important in terms of the development of her early career.  Having just watched the TCM documentary on Joan, they implied (or I interpreted) that The Taxi Dancer was a bit of a disappointment, so they returned her to supporting roles, in particular the string of films she made with top male stars like the aforementioned Lon Chaney, John Gilbert and her best bud Billie Haines. Grooming her, if you will, to the point she could carry a film all on her own - Our Dancing Daughters (1928). Near as I can tell, the above was published in late Nov/early Dec edition of Hollywood Topics. The powers that be must have liked what they were seeing from Joanie given that they tore up her famous initial 5-year contract ($75/week IIRC) with 3 years to go. From the BOE site's chronology, this is what is going on in Joan's life at this point in her life film-wise. www.joancrawfordbest.com/timeline20s.htmMay 24. Paris released. June 14. The Boob released. 1927 January 15. Winners of the Wilderness released. February 5. The Taxi Dancer released. February 26. The Understanding Heart released. June 4. The Unknown released. July. With financial help from MGM, Joan buys a $28,000 house at 513 Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills. July 9. Twelve Miles Out released. Seems to me that Joan must have been doing OK in the eyes of MGM if they tore up her original contract before it ended and gave her a new one with "a big salary increase" (end of '26) and then helped her buy a house in Beverly Hills (mid '27). p.s. $28K in 1927 is estimated to be $412K today, although I have a suspicion that you couldn't get a shack in BH for anything close to that amount!  Edited to put in correct photo. |
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Post by tom on Jan 15, 2022 17:33:22 GMT -6
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Post by tom on Jan 16, 2022 9:10:49 GMT -6
  Two contemporary reviews of The Taxi Dancer. One OK-ish, other more so. Interesting in that the top seems to suggest that the material and the director were not up to snuff. I saw in one documentary that implied she got the B Team for her first starring role. Source : Screenland (May - Oct 1927) |
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Post by tom on Jan 16, 2022 9:50:23 GMT -6
Young Joan espoused her thoughts on love! Hollywood Topics - late 1926/early 1927. Not sure if she had met Doug Jr yet! Fun pose!  |
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Post by tom on Jan 16, 2022 10:15:24 GMT -6
Moving picture world. Sept - Oct 1925 Connie Bennett was likely most famous/seasoned of the trio of young starlets in Sally, Irene and Mary. Fun facts that I learned about the lovely future star of Topper. One of her 4 hubbies was a former hubby of Gloria Swanson. Indeed, there may have been some overlap! She's buried in Arlington National Cemetery ; her 4th and final husband was a general in the Army.   |
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Post by tom on Jan 16, 2022 10:25:35 GMT -6
Same source as above. Apparently, MGM was on a movie making binge in 1925-6. May explain why Joan had a dozen or so roles in her first year in Tinseltown. Movies that Joan participated in are Bardelys the Magnificent and Four Flaming Days (which became The Only Thing), and along with every warm body in Hollywood, as an extra in the chariot scene in Ben Hur. Slave of Fashion is a very early credit. Starred Norma Shearer. Lost film alas.    |
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Post by tom on Jan 16, 2022 10:52:45 GMT -6
Skipping ahead, but back in time. Interesting note about some of the props in Ice Follies (1939). From MGM annual report in 1939.  |
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Post by tom on Jan 16, 2022 16:35:07 GMT -6
Photoplay July - Dec 1928
Joan invents a new way to fill up her book shelves.
For the other, I wonder what Joanie did to get in trouble?!!
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Post by davidmorrocco on Jan 17, 2022 2:18:19 GMT -6
I like skimming through archive.org for articles about Joan from the early days. Especially the period when she was an "It Girl" and rising star before she became an icon. This is from some sort of scandal sheet called Hollywood Topics (Oct 1926-Feb 1927). Can click on it for a bigger view. Tells of Joan landing a plum role in The Unknown (1927) with Lon Chaney based on the success of her turn in Paris (1926). <button disabled="" class="c-attachment-insert--linked o-btn--sm">Attachment Deleted</button> Also a fun little story to the right about her future in-laws buying land in what is now Rancho Santa Fe. Think it's still there and called Fairbanks Ranch. Pretty swanky as I recall from when I last drove near there. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbanks_Ranch,_California |
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Post by davidmorrocco on Jan 17, 2022 2:20:35 GMT -6
I use to work in Rancho Santa Fe. I’ve driven through Fairbanks Ranch a bunch of times. It’s so beautiful.
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Post by tom on Jan 17, 2022 14:33:28 GMT -6
I use to work in Rancho Santa Fe. I’ve driven through Fairbanks Ranch a bunch of times. It’s so beautiful. Oh, it's lovely! I cannot recall the small cafe/bistro that we stopped in for breakfast. It's a pretty corner of America. The last time we were in SD for business (getting close to 5 or 6 years by now) we drove out there near Julian, Ramona, Poway, Rancho SF, Del Mar on the coast, etc. etc. |
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